The NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy) hosted a conference in Oeiras, Portugal, on 20 and 21 October 2021.
The event brought together training coordinators and other interested stakeholders to discuss NATO's cyberspace-focused education and training offerings. More than 20 nationalities were represented at the conference, from 10 NATO Command and Force Structure Headquarters, 10 national organizations and three NATO education and training facilities.
"I see this conference not just as an event but really as a checkpoint on our journey, where we check what we have achieved and where is there still potential for us to provide value to NATO as a whole and to Nations," said NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) General Manager Ludwig Decamps. "We need to look not just at tomorrow, but also the day after tomorrow. This is why we really appreciate your engagement today and your various perspectives."
With the world transitioning into a 'new normal,' the theme of "training through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic" underpinned the discussions and informed the outcomes of this dynamic event.
"Over these two days, we presented the Academy to you and captured your requirements for the future," said Major General Göksel Sevindik, the NCI Agency's Chief of Staff. "Education and training is the fundamental requirement to protect our staff, to use our equipment efficiently and of course to protect our networks and systems."
During focused and intensive engagements, participants were able to share their experiences, while gaining a better understanding of the Academy's aim to become a leader in cyberspace learning to reinforce NATO's technological edge.
"We must work together to expand the boundaries of our learning ecosystem and continue to incorporate the latest technologies and content delivery methods," said Dr Garry Hargreaves, NCI Academy Director. "This conference was not only very important, but very timely, as we look to the profound impact emerging technologies will soon bring to the NATO education and training domain."
About the NCI Academy: The NCI Academy delivers training on NATO systems that support operations and exercises. Operators trained in the Academy will go on to maintain NATO's IT and communications systems, as well as its ballistic missile and cyber defences. Click here for more on the Academy.